This year, seven incoming freshmen participated in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Summer Geosciences Bridge Program, organized virtually for the first time in seven years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students attended online lectures in various areas of geoscience, including marine science, atmospheric science and remote sensing/GIS, said Dr. Paulinus Chigbu, the University System of Maryland Wilson H. Elkins Professor of Marine Science at UMES and co-director of the summer program.
Participants, he said, also engaged in chemistry lectures, interactive labs like “Fish Banks,” which focused on scientific policy, and a downsized version of the annual “Coastal Clean-Up” called, “Do YOUR part Clean-Up,” where the student interns went to a local park or beach on their own to collect trash.
Professional development webinars such as “Tools for Success,” “Study Habits, Note- taking and Time Management,” “Resume and Professional Writing” and “Scientific Communication” all set the foundation for student success along with information on how to do an “Elevator Pitch” and scholarship and internship internet searches.
Opportunities existed for the future undergraduates to network virtually with two UMES graduate students, Kayle Krieg and Kasondra Rubalcaya, who shared their academic experiences at UMES and their research projects.
The interns worked on mini-projects over the course of the six-week program and presented their research results at a virtual mini-symposium on August 7. Topics ranged from “Physical and Chemical Characteristics of the Maryland Coastal Bays” to “Distribution of Mud Crab ((Dyspanopeus sayi), Lady Crab (Ovalipes ocellatus) and Horseshore Crab (Limulus Polyphemus) in the Coastal Bays of Maryland.”
They were able to enroll in and get credit for successful completion of a college level math course to put on their transcripts.
“Faculty, staff and parents were pleased with the quality of presentations given by the students,” Chigbu said. “The students stated enthusiastically that the program has placed them a step ahead of other incoming freshmen by preparing them for college life.”
Dr. Ali Ishaque, an associate professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, was the co-director of the program and Cy’Anna Scott, the coordinator.
